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Shanghai: first citywide WiFi net in China

From "Citywide wireless Internet network to be set up," by Zhu Shenshen, Shanghai Daily, 25 October:

"Shanghai plans to set up a citywide wireless broadband network in time for the World Expo in 2010, the commission for promoting information technology industry announced yesterday.

"Once completed, it will be the first citywide wireless broadband network on the Chinese mainland, the commission officials said.

"Shanghai Telecom Co Ltd and China Mobile's Shanghai Branch have signed agreements with the commission to invest a total of 40 billion yuan (US$5 billion) to improve local IT infrastructure, including the wireless network.

" 'Every one can access the broadband network at anytime from anywhere in the city,' the commission said in a statement posted on its Website yesterday. Currently, wireless Web surfing is only available at the city's two commercial airports, some star-rated hotels and restaurants and Starbucks outlets across the city.

"Shanghai Telecom said the 'hot spots,' where wireless services are available, will cover the whole city.

" 'It hasn't been decided whether to charge as we have to negotiate with the government first,' Zheng Jianping, a spokesperson for Shanghai Telecom said yesterday.

"Many American cities with wireless networks, such as Boston, don't charge users for access. A decision on fees could greatly affect the quality of service provided by the network, analysts said. Government-sponsored free wireless networks often don't provide high-quality service, said Sandy Shen, an analyst with Gartner Inc, a US-based IT consulting firm. 'People are not willing to pay for a profitable wireless network if they have already subscribed to cable-based Internet access service,' Shen said.

"By August, about 1.6 million local households had subscribed to broadband services, according to the Shanghai Communications Administration.

" 'The network is a key step for Shanghai to construct a "digital city." Besides consumers, government departments can improve work efficiency on the network,' said Zhang Ying, a telecom analyst at a Beijing-based IT consulting firm.

"The next-generation of Wi-Fi technologies, such as WiMax (worldwide inter-operability for microwave access) and 3G, will be adopted by the local network to make it profitable, Zhang said.

"The charge for using the wireless network should be no higher than cost of making a phone call (about 0.10 yuan a minute), suggested Shelia Chen, a 27-year-old accountant.

"Besides laptops, people will also be able to use the network through mobile phones and portable multimedia players with Wi-Fi support, industry insiders said."

[WiFi: 24 October 2006]